Social media unveils the hidden but high magnitude of human-mediated biological invasions in China.

Humans are responsible for the release of many non-native animals into the wild. However, these releases occur randomly and are difficult to monitor. Here, using two of the worst invasive herpetofauna as model taxa, we applied an iEcology approach and found a high magnitude of human-mediated releases in China, suggesting this approach can be used to monitor introductions and advise management bodies in a timely manner.

Climate match is key to predict range expansion of the world's worst invasive terrestrial vertebrates.

Understanding the determinants of the range expansion of invasive alien species is crucial for developing effective prevention and control strategies. Nevertheless, we still lack a global picture of the potential factors influencing the invaded range expansion across taxonomic groups, especially for the world's worst invaders with high ecological and economic impacts. Here, by extensively collecting data on 363 distributional ranges of 19 of world's worst invasive terrestrial vertebrates across 135 invaded administrative jurisdictions, we observed remarkable variations in the range expansion across species and taxonomic groups. After controlling for taxonomic and geographic pseudoreplicates, model averaging analyses based on generalized additive mixed-effect models showed that species in invaded regions having climates more similar to those of their native ranges tended to undergo a larger range expansion. In addition, as proxies of propagule pressure and human-assisted transportation, the number of introduction events and the road network density were also important predictors facilitating the range expansion. Further variance partitioning analyses validated the predominant role of climate match in explaining the range expansion. Our study demonstrated that regions with similar climates to their native ranges could still be prioritized to prevent the spread of invasive species under the sustained global change.

Meta-analysis reveals less sensitivity of non-native animals than natives to extreme weather worldwide.

Extreme weather events (EWEs; for example, heatwaves, cold spells, storms, floods and droughts) and non-native species invasions are two major threats to global biodiversity and are increasing in both frequency and consequences. Here we synthesize 443 studies and apply multilevel mixed-effects metaregression analyses to compare the responses of 187 non-native and 1,852 native animal species across terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems to different types of EWE. Our results show that marine animals, regardless of whether they are non-native or native, are overall insensitive to EWEs, except for negative effects of heatwaves on native mollusks, corals and anemone. By contrast, terrestrial and freshwater non-native animals are only adversely affected by heatwaves and storms, respectively, whereas native animals negatively respond to heatwaves, cold spells and droughts in terrestrial ecosystems and are vulnerable to most EWEs except cold spells in freshwater ecosystems. On average, non-native animals displayed low abundance in terrestrial ecosystems, and decreased body condition and life history traits in freshwater ecosystems, whereas native animals displayed declines in body condition, life history traits, abundance, distribution and recovery in terrestrial ecosystems, and community structure in freshwater ecosystems. By identifying areas with high overlap between EWEs and EWE-tolerant non-native species, we also provide locations where native biodiversity might be adversely affected by their joint effects and where EWEs might facilitate the establishment and/or spread of non-native species under continuing global change.

Intestinal microenvironment-mediated allergic dynamic phenotypes and endotypes in the development of gluten allergy.

This study aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in intestinal microenvironment factors in the development of gluten-induced allergy (GA). Our results showed that GA provoked increasingly severe allergic phenotypes such as allergic and diarrheal symptoms with the gluten sensitization frequency, which was accompanied by dynamically rising levels of gluten-specific immunoglobulin (Ig) E, IgG2a and IgA, serum histamine, T cell-related inflammatory cytokines, and intestinal indexes. An increase in luminal pH was more significant in the large intestine versus the small intestine, which was due to a dynamic decline in colonic short-chain fatty acid levels. Both antioxidant capacity and intestinal permeability in the large intestine varied with the GA severity, as evidenced by a dynamic increase in the malondialdehyde content and a decrease in the superoxide dismutase activity and total antioxidant capacity. Moreover, we demonstrated that intestinal microenvironment dysbiosis occurred before a true allergy reaction began. Spearman correlation analysis suggested that the characteristic bacterial cluster, namely Alistipes, Desulfovibrio, Ileibacterium, Parabacteroides, and Ruminococcus torques group, are essential in the association between GA and intestinal microenvironment homeostasis.

Increasing the pressure during high pressure homogenization regulates the starch digestion of the resulting pea starch-gallic acid complexes.

The pea starch-gallic acid (PS-GA) complexes were prepared using high pressure homogenization (HPH), then the effect and underlying mechanism of pressure on multi-scale structure and digestibility of complexes were investigated. Results showed that HPH promoted the formation of PS-GA complexes, reaching the maximum complex index of 7.74 % at the pressure of 90 MPa, and the main driving force were hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding. The interaction between PS and GA facilitated the formation of surface reticular structures to encapsulate gallic acid molecules, further entangled into bigger size aggregates. The enhancement of rearrangement and aggregation of starch chains during HPH developed a dense hierarchical structure of PS-GA complexes, including short-range ordered structure, V-type crystal structure, lamellar and fractal structure, thus increasing gelatinization temperature. The digestibility of PS-GA complexes substantially changed in reducing rapidly digestible starch content from 29.67 % to 17.07 %, increasing slowly digestible starch from 53.69 % to 56.25 % and resistant starch from 16.63 % to 26.67 %, respectively. Moreover, the resulting complexes exhibited slower digestion rates compared with native PS. Furthermore, the regulating mechanism of pressure during HPH on starch digestibility was the formation of ordered multi-scale structure and inhibition of GA on digestive enzymes.

The high dose of inulin exacerbated food allergy through the excess accumulation of short-chain fatty acids in a BABL/c mouse model.

Inulin dietary supplement is conventionally beneficial to gut health and can potentially prevent food allergy (FA). This study aimed to determine how dietary inulin interventions at different doses affect the OVA-induced FA in a BALB/c mouse model. Although the middle dose of inulin (50 mg per mouse) showed the best therapeutic effect on FA, high-inulin supplementation (80 mg per mouse) provoked severe allergic and intestinal inflammatory responses, which were characterized by elevated serum allergic inflammation-related factor levels, dysfunctional gut barrier, unbalanced luminal pH value, decrease in intestinal antioxidant capacity, and disordered gut microecology. Moreover, profiling of SCFAs indicated that the high-inulin-induced excess accumulation of SCFAs in the colon was responsible for the gut immune disorders. Spearman correlation analysis unraveled that the featured bacterial taxa in the high-inulin-treated mice were Ruminococcaceae and Bifidobacterium, of which the relative abundance was negatively correlated with expression of tight junction proteins and improvement of T cell homeostasis, and positively correlated with levels of allergic inflammation-related indexes. Our work suggested that high-inulin dietary supplementation can be detrimental to allergic individuals and highlighted the importance for personalized use of inulin-type dietary supplements to safely improve human health.

Preferred prey reduce species realized niche shift and improve range expansion prediction.

Many studies have detected realized climatic niche shifts during range changes; this is challenging the fundamental theory of the niche conservatism hypothesis (NCH) and the usefulness of the ecological niche model (ENM) for predicting the distributions of species in space and time by tracking environmental change. Biotic factors such as predatory interactions are important components of species realized niches but are generally difficult to quantify during NCH testing and ENM building. Identifying species' preferred prey may provide a unique opportunity to include trophic interactions in assessing the NCH and determine whether more precise ENM predictions are generated. In this study, we focused on a range-expanding predatory bird, the Asian openbill (Anastomus oscitans). The main prey of the Asian openbill include 136 snail species. We observed a realized climatic niche shift during the northward expansion of the Asian openbill by considering only climates; however, niche conservatism was detected after incorporating their preferred prey. ENMs including preferred snails also predicted the distributions of the Asian openbill better than climate-only models and models including nonpreferred snails or only habitat variables. The results of our study suggested the importance of incorporating preferred prey in evaluating the NCH and developing a framework for predicting the range shifts of both native and alien species in response to global climate change.

Effects of propofol intravenous general anesthesia and inhalational anesthesia on T-lymphocyte activity after breast cancer surgery: A meta-analysis.

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. General anesthesia is a commonly used anesthesia method for breast cancer surgery, and studies have confirmed that general anesthesia can induce immunosuppression in breast cancer patients and increase the metastasis rate of tumors. However, the difference between the effects of intravenous general anesthesia and inhalation anesthesia on the function of T-lymphocytes is still controversial, and it is necessary to explore reasonable anesthesia methods to reduce immunosuppression caused by surgery and anesthesia. Materials and Methods: Databases (Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, CBM, CNKI, and Wanfang) were searched (up to October 2022) for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing intraoperative inhalation anesthesia and propofol intravenous anesthesia in breast cancer patients, with the outcome of T-lymphocyte subsets. The meta-analysis was performed by STATA 14.0. Results: Six RCTs with 352 patients were included in the study. Compared with inhalation anesthesia, there was no difference in T-lymphocyte subsets between the two groups immediately after surgery, but the activities of CD4+ T cells in patients with propofol anesthesia were higher (standard mean difference [SMD] = 0.234, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.003-0.466, P = 0.047, I2 = 44.1%) than those under inhalation anesthesia 1 day after surgery, and CD4+/CD8+ activities in patients with propofol anesthesia were higher (SMD = 304, 95% CI: 0.072-0.537, P = 0.010, I2 = 48.0%) than those under inhalation anesthesia 1 day after surgery. Conclusion: There were no differences in the effects of propofol and inhalation anesthetics on T-lymphocytes immediately after surgery, but the inhibitory effects of inhalation anesthetics on CD4+ and CD4+/CD8+ cells were stronger 1 day after surgery.

Potato starch films by incorporating tea polyphenol and MgO nanoparticles with enhanced physical, functional and preserved properties.

Due to the massive environmental pollution caused by synthetic plastic packaging accumulation and contemporary necessities of food packaging materials, the biodegradable and multifunctional bionanocomposite films based on potato starch (PS) incorporating tea polyphenol (TP) and MgO nanoparticles (MgO-NPs) were successfully fabricated by the solution casting method, and their physical and functional properties and application in fruits preservation were systematically investigated. Incorporation of TP and MgO-NPs improved the films' tensile strength, UV light-blocking, hydrophobicity and thermal stability, and decreased their moisture content (from 14.02 % to 11.21 %), water solubility (from 19.57 % to 16.56 %), and water vapor permeability (from 17.32 to 9.07 × 10-11 g∙m-1∙s-1∙Pa-1). Moreover, the PS/TP/MgO-NPs films exhibited strong antioxidant activity, and remarkable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus with the diameter of inhibition zone of 25.60 mm and 27.50 mm, respectively. SEM, ATR-FTIR and XRD analyses indicated the TP and MgO-NPs were dispersed homogeneously in the PS matrix, and identified the molecular interactions of hydrogen bond, hydrophobic interaction and electrostatic attraction. Biodegradability assessment showed that all the films were rapidly decomposed within ~20 days under simulated environmental conditions. Compared to control, the PS/TP/MgO-NPs film-forming solution coatings were capable of maintaining fruit quality by reducing the change in weight loss, firmness and total soluble solids. Overall, these results suggested that the multifunctional bionanocomposite films could be a potential approach for developing sustainable active food packaging.

Gut Microbial Signatures Associated with Peanut Allergy in a BALB/c Mouse Model.

Multiple studies have uncovered the pivotal role of gut microbiota in the development of food allergy. However, the effects of gut microbiota on peanut allergy are still unclear. Here, we characterized the gut microbiota composition of peanut-allergic mice by 16S rRNA sequencing and analyzed the correlation between allergic indicators and gut microbiota composition. Outcomes showed that the gut microbiota composition was reshaped in peanut-allergic mice, with Acidobacteriota, Lachnospiraceae, Rikenellaceae, Alistipes, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group significantly down-regulated and Muribaculaceae up-regulated. All of them were significantly correlated with the serum peanut-specific antibodies. These results suggested that these six bacterial OTUs might be the gut microbial signatures associated with peanut allergy.

Pediococcus acidilactici Strain Alleviates Gluten-Induced Food Allergy and Regulates Gut Microbiota in Mice.

Wheat flour, the most important source of food globally, is also one of the most common causative agents of food allergy. Wheat gluten protein, which accounts for 80% of the total wheat protein, is a major determinant of important wheat-related disorders. In this study, the effects of Pediococcus acidilactici XZ31 against gluten-induced allergy were investigated in a mouse model. The oral administration of P. acidilactici XZ31 attenuated clinical and intestinal allergic responses in allergic mice. Further results showed that P. acidilactici XZ31 regulated Th1/Th2 immune balance toward Th1 polarization, which subsequently induced a reduction in gluten-specific IgE production. We also found that P. acidilactici XZ31 modulated gut microbiota homeostasis by balancing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio and increasing bacterial diversity and the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria. Specifically, the abundance of Firmicutes and Erysipelotrichaceae is positively correlated with concentrations of gluten-specific IgE and may act as a fecal biomarker for diagnosis. The evidence for the role of P. acidilactici XZ31 in alleviating gluten-induced allergic responses sheds light on the application of P. acidilactici XZ31 in treating wheat allergy.

Biological invasions facilitate zoonotic disease emergences.

Outbreaks of zoonotic diseases are accelerating at an unprecedented rate in the current era of globalization, with substantial impacts on the global economy, public health, and sustainability. Alien species invasions have been hypothesized to be important to zoonotic diseases by introducing both existing and novel pathogens to invaded ranges. However, few studies have evaluated the generality of alien species facilitating zoonoses across multiple host and parasite taxa worldwide. Here, we simultaneously quantify the role of 795 established alien hosts on the 10,473 zoonosis events across the globe since the 14th century. We observe an average of ~5.9 zoonoses per alien zoonotic host. After accounting for species-, disease-, and geographic-level sampling biases, spatial autocorrelation, and the lack of independence of zoonosis events, we find that the number of zoonosis events increase with the richness of alien zoonotic hosts, both across space and through time. We also detect positive associations between the number of zoonosis events per unit space and climate change, land-use change, biodiversity loss, human population density, and PubMed citations. These findings suggest that alien host introductions have likely contributed to zoonosis emergences throughout recent history and that minimizing future zoonotic host species introductions could have global health benefits.

The Supercooling Responses of the Solitary Bee Osmia excavata (Hymenoptera: Megachilidae) under the Biological Stress of Its Brood Parasite, Sapyga coma (Hymenoptera: Sapygidae).

(1) Background: Many insects have evolved different strategies to adapt to subzero temperatures and parasites, but the supercooling response of pollinator populations under the brood parasitism pressure has not been sufficiently investigated. (2) Methods: This study assessed the supercooling traits (supercooling points, fresh weight and fat content) of the solitary bee Osmia excavata Alfken and its brood parasite, Sapyga coma Yasumatsu & Sugihara. We measured 4035 samples (3025 O. excavata and 1010 S. coma, one individual as one sample) and discovered the supercooling traits relations between solitary bee and brood parasite. (3) Results: Significant differences in the supercooling points were found between O. excavata (females: −24.18 (−26.02~−20.07) vs. males: −23.21 (−25.15~−18.65) °C) and S. coma (females: −22.19 (−25.46~−18.38) vs. males: −20.65 (−23.85~−16.15) °C, p < 0.0001) in the same sex, and also between sexes of same species. The two species' supercooling traits (supercooling points, fresh weight, and fat content) were significantly positively correlated. The supercooling points of the solitary bee varies regularly under brood parasitism pressure. (4) Conclusions: Our study indicates the supercooling traits relationships between a solitary bee and its brood parasite and suggests that the supercooling points of the solitary bee increase under the biological stress of its brood parasite in a certain level.

Differential Levels of Fatty Acid-Amino Acid Conjugates in the Oral Secretions of Lepidopteran Larvae Account for the Different Profiles of Volatiles.

BACKGROUND: Plants have evolved sophisticated defense responses to insect herbivore attack, which often involve elicitors in the insects' oral secretions. The major eliciting compounds in insect oral secretions across different species and their potency in inducing volatile emissions have not yet been fully characterized and compared. RESULTS: Seven lepidopteran insects with variable duration of association with maize were selected, five species known as pests for a long time (Ostrinia furnacalis, Spodoptera exigua, Spodoptera litura, Mythimna separata, and Helicoverpa armigera) and two newly emerging pests (Athetis lepigone and Athetis dissimilis). Oral secretions of the newly emerging pests have the highest total contents of Fatty Acid-Amino Acid Conjugates (FACs), and their relative composition was well separated from that of the other five species in principal compound analysis. Redundancy analyses suggested that higher quantity of FACs was mainly responsible for the increases in maize volatiles, of which (E)-3,8-dimethyl-1,4,7-nonatriene (DMNT) and (E, E)-4,8,12-trimethyltrideca-1,3,7,11-tetraene (TMTT) were the most strongly inducible compounds. Adding FACs to the oral secretion of S. litura larvae significantly increased the emissions of TMTT and DMNT, confirming the key role of FACs in inducing volatile emissions in maize plants. Additional experiments with artificial diet spiked with linolenic acid suggested that variation in FACs is due to differences in internal FAC degradation and fatty acid excretion. CONCLUSION: Compared with two newly emerging pests A. lepigone and A. dissimilis, the long-term pests could diminish the volatile emission by maize through reducing the FAC content in their oral secretions, which may lower the risk of attracting natural enemies.

[Epidemiological and clinical features of occult hepatitis B in HIV infection without antiretroviral treatment].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate and analyze the differential prevalence, as well as the risk factors and clinical features, of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected population without antiretroviral therapy (ART) as compared to the general (non-HIV-infected) population. METHODS: Two-hundred-and-forty-eight individuals with confirmed HIV infection but ART naive (males: 220, females: 28; 15-82 years old) were enrolled in the study, along with 121 healthy individuals (confirmed HIV antibody-negative; males: 53, females: 68; 20-88 years old). HBV markers (hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg); hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg); anti-HBs, anti-HBe and anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) antibodies) were detected by microparticle enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (AxSYM immunology analyzer manufactured by Abbott Laboratories); all cases and controls were confirmed negative for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Then, the HBV DNA level in serum was detected using nucleic acid amplification assay (COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HBV test, version 2.0 manufactured by Roche). CD4+ T lymphocytes were measured by flow cytometry, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT, marker of liver function) was measured by enzymatic assay. RESULTS: Twenty-four of the HIV cases (9.7%) and four of the healthy controls (3.3%) tested positive for HBV DNA; the amount of individuals with HBV DNA-positivity was significantly higher in the HIV-infected group (P = 0.035). Among the 24 cases of HBV DNA(+) HIV-infected individuals, the lowest HBV DNA load was < 20 IU/ml and the highest was 3.22 x 10s IU/ml; nine of the individuals (37.5%) had HBV DNA load > 100 IU/ml, four (16.7%) had 20-99 IU/ ml, and 11 (45.8%) had < 20 IU/ml. Among the total HIV-infected cases with HBV DNA-positivity, 7.3% (8/110) were anti-HBc(+)/anti-HBs(+), 20.8% (11/53) were anti-HBc(+)/anti-HBs(-), 14.3% (3/21) were anti-HBc(-)/anti-HBs(+), and 3.1% (2/64) were anti-HBc(-)/anti-HBs(-). The amount of individuals with HBV DNA-positivity in the anti-HBc(+)/anti-HBs(-) group was significantly different from those in the anti-HBc(+)/anti-HBs(+) group (P = 0.018) and the anti-HBc(-)/anti-HBs(-) group (P = 0.003). However, multiple comparison of HBV DNA loads detected between the four groups of HBV marker status revealed no significant difference (P = 0.805). Furthermore, statistical analysis provided no evidence to support that occult hepatitis B infection in HIV-infected individuals had any impact on CD4+ T lymphocytes count (Z = 1.902, P = 0.059) or ALT levels (Z =1.401, P = 0.161). CONCLUSION: HIV-infected individuals who are ART naive and HBsAg(-) have a higher incidence of HBV DNA-positivity than individuals in the general (non-HIV-infected) population. In addition, the highest rate of occult hepatitis B among the HIV-infected cases occurred among individuals who were anti-HBc(+)/anti-HBs(-).

Rotavirus infection and its genetic characterization in non-hospitalized adults with acute gastroenteritis in Shanghai, China.

Rotavirus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in infants and young children, while its role as a pathogen in adults has long been underappreciated. In order to describe the epidemiological patterns and genetic characteristics of rotavirus causing sporadic acute gastroenteritis in adults, hospital-based surveillance of rotavirus infections was conducted in Shanghai, China, between June 2010 and May 2011. Stool specimens were collected from outpatients with acute gastroenteritis admitted to three local hospitals. Rotavirus was detected using a colloidal gold test device. G and P genotyping were performed by multiplex PCR assays, and the VP7 gene of G9 strains were sequenced for further genetic characterization. Of 1,479 adult diarrheal stool samples examined during the 1-year surveillance period, 138 (9.3 %) were found to be rotavirus positive. G1 appeared to be the predominant genotype (35.5 %), suggesting a shift from genotype G3 to G1 in the study population in Shanghai. Meanwhile, a high frequency of genotype G9 (27.5 %) was also observed, and G9 was also predominant (38.1 %) in the small number of children (n=123) involved in the present study. Other specificities detected in adults were G2 (12.3 %) and G3 (13.8 %). For P genotyping, only two types, P[8] and P[4], were detected. P[8] was dominant in both children and adults. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis revealed that these strains could be divided into two different groups, with clustering within G9 lineage 3 and the subcluster of Japanese and Chinese G9 strains, respectively. In comparison to the previous data, G9 strains established themselves in a short time span as an important genotype in Shanghai, China.

Early adaptive humoral immune responses and virus clearance in humans recently infected with pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza virus.

Few studies on the humoral immune responses in human during natural influenza infection have been reported. Here, we used serum samples from pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza infected patients to characterize the humoral immune responses to influenza during natural infection in humans. We observed for the first time that the pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza induced influenza A-specific IgM within days after symptoms onset, whereas the unit of IgG did not changed. The magnitude of influenza A-specific IgM antibodies might have a value in predicting the rate of virus clearance to some degree. However, the newly developed IgM was not associated with hemagglutination inhibition (HI) activities in the same samples but correlated with HI activities of subsequently collected sera which were mediated by IgG antibodies, indicating that IgM was critical for influenza infection and influences subsequent IgG antibody responses. These findings provide new important insights on the human immunity to natural influenza infection.

Clinical evaluation of a colorimetric oligonucleotide chip for genotyping hepatitis C virus.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide. It is associated with the development of end-stage liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma. Studies have shown that determination of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes is clinically important for prediction of the clinical course and the outcome of antiviral therapy. The aim of this study was to evaluate a colorimetric oligonucleotide chip, which can be used for the rapid and economical detection of the genotypes/subtypes of hepatitis C virus. DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 860 serum specimens were tested by an oligonucleotide chip genotyping test. Partial genotype results were compared with those obtained by sequencing method and INNOLiPA HCV II assay. The relative sensitivities of the methods were assessed by using the 5'NCR amplicon from the HCV RNA fluorescent amplicor HCV tests and Light Cycler. RESULTS: Of 860 serum specimens tested for their genotypes/subtypes by the oligonucleotide array, 607 HCV positive serum samples could be typed by the sequencing method and 60 of 607 HCV positive serum specimens were typed by INNOLiPA HCV II method. Identification of genotype/subtypes by nucleotide sequencing and INNOLiPA HCV II assay showed respective coincidence rates of 99.8% and 96.7% with the HCV oligonucleotide chip results. And the colorimetric method exhibited 99.8% of relative sensitivity compared with the fluorescent amplicor HCV tests. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge this oligonucleotide chip genotyping method offers a fast and convenient way to determine the genotype in large-scale settings. The tests can be easily adapted by a clinical diagnostic laboratory.

A random PCR screening system for the identification of type 1 human herpes simplex virus.

Several viral diseases exhibit measles-like symptoms. Differentiation of suspected cases of measles with molecular epidemiological techniques in the laboratory is useful for measles surveillance. In this study, a random PCR screening system was undertaken for the identification of isolates from patients with measles-like symptoms who exhibited cytopathic effects, but who had negative results for measles virus-specific reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and indirect immunofluorescence assays. Sequence analysis of random amplified PCR products showed that they were highly homologous to type 1 human herpes simplex virus (HSV-1). The results were further confirmed by an HSV-1-specific TaqMan real-time PCR assay. The random PCR screening system described in this study provides an efficient procedure for the identification of unknown viral pathogens. Measles-like symptoms can also be caused by HSV-1, suggesting the need to include HSV-1 in differential diagnoses of measles-like diseases.

Colorimetric oligonucleotide array for genotyping of hepatitis C virus based on the 5' non-coding region.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C virus infection is now one of the most important causes of chronic liver disease. HCV genotype has emerged as an important factor both in predicting a sustained response to, and in determining the duration of, antiviral therapy. Microarrays provide excellent tools for rapid genotyping of hepatitis C virus due to their ability to perform a multitude of tests simultaneously. METHODS: A colorimetric oligonucleotide array that specially and rapidly detects the genotype/subtypes of hepatitis C virus was designed and developed. RESULTS: A total of 256 consecutive HCV RNA positive samples derived from patients with chronic hepatitis C were examined for their genotypes/subtypes by the oligonucleotide array. Identification of genotypes and subtypes by the HCV oligonucleotide array showed a concordance rate of 99.2% with nucleotide sequencing results. CONCLUSION: The oligonucleotide array offers an economical and convenient alternative to detect HCV infection, as well as permitting identification of the genotype/subtypes, in a large-scale setting. Oligonucleotide arrays provide a reliable and sensitive method for the detection and discrimination of HCV genotypes common in China, and are suitable for routine use in a diagnostic laboratory.